Your First Triathlon (Sprint/Experienced Swimmer).

This simple and easy-to-follow, 12-week plan is intended for an EXPERIENCED SWIMMER training for his/her first sprint-distance triathlon (about S-400/B-13miles/R-5k) who has little or no background in biking or running. The swim workouts are more advanced than for the beginner-no-experience plan. It includes one daily workout with optional workouts you can also do if you have time. The plan is based on Joe Friel's book, Your First Triathlon.

(Note that this plan does not include expected workout TSS and does not use the "workout builder" format. TSS, however, is still calculated on completion of every workout. Those plans with "NEW" in the title include both expected TSS and use the workout builder feature.)

When purchasing this plan if you check the box to share your email address with Joe Friel when prompted you will receive two follow-up emails from him with more information about your plan and you will also be able to contact him should you run into a problem. Your email address won't be used for anything else. Also, after your event please provide feedback on how this plan worked out for you.

NOTE: If in the first two (2) weeks after buying this plan you decide it isn’t the right one for you, contact Joe Friel (jfriel@trainingbible.com) and he will help you make the right choice and a swap - at no cost to you (assuming they are the same price).

Sample Day 1

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Take today off from exercise and rest.

Sample Day 1

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Strength: OPTIONAL: Strength Workout #1: AA Phase. The purpose of the AA phase is to perfect the exercise movements while building general body strength. Warm up by spinning on a stationary bike for 5 minutes. Then with a 30RM load (a weight you could only lift about 30 times), do 3 sets of 20 reps each (it will feel easy) of the following exercises: A. leg press, B. seated row, C. chest press, D. heel raise or knee extension or leg curl (choose one of these 3 based on your personal weakness—calf, knees, hamstrings), E. abdominal curl with twist, F. standing, bent-arm, lat pull down. Complete all 3 sets before advancing to the next exercise. Focus on doing each exercise with perfect form. Form is more important than weight loads in this phase. Cool down by riding a stationary bike for 5 minutes with a high cadence and a low resistance.

Sample Day 2

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Swim Workout #7. Swim with your masters swim team. Ask the instructor on the deck for feedback on your technique. If no masters available swim your own workout always concentrating on good form.

Sample Day 2

Continuous swim

WU: 10 minutes alternating slow-fast pacing. Play with different strokeswhile warming up.MS: 30-minute steady swim. Swim without stopping. Count your strokes on the first 25 of each 100. Are they staying constant?CD: 5 minutes very easy. Choice of strokes or floating on your back and sculling.Total: 45 minutes

Sample Day 2

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OPTIONAL: Run Workout #1. This is a 20-minute walk-run session and is best done on a flat, soft surface such as gravel, grass, dirt or on a track. Avoid concrete and asphalt if at all possible. Warm up by walking briskly for 5 minutes increasing the intensity from zone 1 to zone 2 as you progress. Then alternate 15-second runs with 45-second walks 10 times. The walk portions are done in zone 1. The runs should be zone 3 intensity. Cool down by walking in the zone 1 for 5 minutes.

Sample Day 3

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Bike Workout #1. This is a 20-minute ride and is best done on a mostly flat course or on an indoor trainer. Gradually increase the intensity from 1 to 2 as you warm up. Stay mostly in zone 2 throughout the remainder of the ride. Concentrate on your pedaling cadence (count every time your right foot goes down for 1 minute). If on a flat stretch of road it is below 90 rpm, shift to a lower (easier) gear. On the road, every time you come to a small hill or head wind shift to a lower (easier) gear to maintain 90 rpm. Shift to a higher (harder) gear on downhills. If on an indoor trainer, play with the gears shifting frequently noticing how your cadence changes when you do. Cool down in zone 1 for 5 minutes.

Sample Day 4

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Run Workout #8. This is about a 20-minute “strides” workout and is best done on a flat, soft surface such as gravel, grass, dirt or on a track. Parks are excellent for this workout. Do not do this workout on concrete and asphalt. Warm up by alternating 1 minute of walking briskly in zone 1 with 1 minute of running in zone 2 for a total of 7 minutes (the experienced runner can run for 15-20 minutes building from zone 1 to 2). Then on a flat or very slightly downhill course which is approximately 100 yards long, run 20 seconds in zone 4. Note that these are not zone 5 (all-out effort). Hold back and concentrate on running form, not speed. Count each time your right foot touches the ground for this 20 seconds. The number should be at least 29. Turn around and walk back to your starting point. Do 4-6 of these strides. If you are taking fewer than 29 right foot steps in 20 seconds then shorten and quicken your stride without running any harder than zone 4. As a variation on this workout, do the first 2 or 3 strides barefoot (on grass only and be sure to check for sharp objects first). When you put your shoes back on try to run with the same good form you used when barefoot. Cool down by walking in zone 1 for 5 minutes. The experienced runner can vary this workout by doing the strides uphill and may extend it to 45 minutes with a longer warm-up and cool down.

Joe Friel

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Joe Friel Coaching

An endurance coach since 1980 Joe Friel has worked with triathletes, cyclists, and runners around the globe. He trains coaches and assists various national federations and national Olympic team staff. He also consults with professional athletes and sports-related businesses. Coach Friel occasionally offers personal camps and seminars for clubs and teams. He has authored 17 books on training including the best-selling Training Bible series. For more info go to his blog at www.jfrielsblog.com.